Chairperson, the reports that were received in July 2009 from all provinces show that, currently, we have vacancies, in terms of children's homes, of 1 114. Actually, looking countrywide, we have a maximum capacity of 14 581, and the actual number of beds that are in use are 13 440, and then the vacancies are at 1 141. What we are trying to do now, is to ensure that we move towards the rural areas because most of the youth and child care centres are in urban areas.
Yes, although there are no backlogs reported with regard to the placement of children in children's homes, we sometimes have administrative delays such as waiting for final court orders and designation letters. Despite this, there are measures in place to avert backlogs in the placement of children as prescribed in the Child Care Amendment Act, No 74 of 1983. These measures include the development of regulations, guidelines, norms and standards for placement of children into alternative care.
Lastly, yes, the national Department of Social Development has taken measures to ensure that there is monitoring and evaluation. As I've said before, there are also norms and standards that we are using to ensure that we are able to evaluate ourselves, heads of Social Development and heads of the forum, which takes place quarterly. Thank you.
Position regarding funding for schools qualifying for National School Nutrition Programme
20. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether, in each of the past two financial years up to the latest specified date for which information is available, there were any schools in provinces that qualified for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) but (a) did not receive funding or (b) received funding which was subsequently discontinued due to insufficient funds;
(2) whether her department has put any measures in place to ensure that (a) all schools that qualify for the programme receive funding, (b) sufficient funds are allocated to implement the programme and (c) there will not be any disruption in the feeding of learners? CO86E
Chairperson, my response to the hon Nosipho Ntwanambi is as follows: 1(a) According to the information available to the Department of Basic Education, there are no schools that qualified for the National School Nutrition Programme that did not receive funding; and 1(b) no school discontinued feeding due to insufficient funding.
In 2008, the exceedingly high food inflation experienced nationally as well as internationally put severe strain on the programme as the prices of staples rose remarkably. This was alleviated through an adjustment budget allocation from the National Treasury in October 2008.
2(a) Yes, measures were put in place and are in place to feed all deserving schools in 2009; quintiles 1 to 3 in primary schools and quintile 1 in secondary schools, according to the approved minimum norms of the programme.
Ms Ntwanambi would be glad to learn that in the Eastern Cape, for example, as a result of the expansion to Quintile 1 high schools, we are able to feed 72 822 additional learners and we are able to provide support to 182 additional schools.
Finally, all provinces verify the Education Management Information System, EMIS, data each year. In essence, schools that are not satisfied with their quintile status have an opportunity to raise any objections with their respective provincial offices, and if there were any schools in the province that qualified for the National School Nutrition Programme but did not receive the necessary funding, the funds will be allocated to these schools.
2(b) Sufficient funds are allocated to implement the programme in targeted schools as gazetted learner numbers are used to calculate provincial allocations. The resources that are allocated for the nutrition scheme are ring-fenced for that particular purpose. So, they are indeed verified, submitted to the national department and allocations are made accordingly.
2(c) The department is committed to ensuring that learners are fed on all school days, with no interruptions. We may share with you, Chairperson, that last year there were provinces that did this on only three out of the five days. Today we can say, in this year, five of the five days children in our schools are being fed. Officials from the national, provincial and district levels monitor and support the implementation of the programme in schools. Thank you.
Chairperson, the Deputy Minister said that they are only allocating this to quintile 1 schools. What happens in other quintiles, for instance quintile 2 or 3? Some of the children from primary schools were on the nutrition programme, but when they go to secondary schools and they fall under quintile 2 or 3, that stops immediately. When will they extend it to other quintiles?
Thank you, Chairperson. I share in the concern of the hon member, but as a result of the very same concern, and in terms of the discussion between the Ministry and the MECs for education, we believe that it has to be expanded. Previously, nutrition was only provided in primary schools, particularly for quintiles 1, 2 and 3. As a result of the decision taken by the ANC at the Polokwane conference, and the mandate given by our people, we have indeed expanded our programme to include quintile 1 high schools.
One must recognise that this has to be a progressive measure. Currently, we are feeding more than 6,3 million learners in our education system through the nutrition scheme. The expansion would obviously cover larger numbers of our learners. What we can share with this House is that the Department of Education in concurrence with the provinces has put a bid for quintiles 2 and 3 high schools. This means that we would not or should not have a situation where one child in primary school is being fed while the sibling in high school is being excluded. That speaks to the concern raised by the hon member and we do hope that, notwithstanding the constraints, Treasury is able to accommodate us, in which event quintiles 2 and 3 will also be fed at high school level. Thank you.
Chairperson, if I am irrelevant, will you please stop me? During the provincial week, we went to Phezulu and Zamazama schools in Limpopo. They are just 1,5km apart. Zamazama School gets feeding and Phezulu does not, because of these quintiles. Could the Minister be sympathetic and help Phezulu to get feeding?
Chairperson, the hon member is indeed correct. There are situations like that, where schools within 1 or 2km of each other are in different quintiles. Therefore, through the Education Management Information System we submit to provinces, annually, the data that we have and the ranking of each school, and we invite them to review and revise them.
We have also indicated that if an MEC is of the view that the quintile is not correct, he or she could adjust that. I have even given the example of the former MEC for education - who is now the Minister of Health - who has adjusted many, many of the schools in the Limpopo province that may have been ranked as quintile 4, but had to be changed because of the poverty index.
Indeed, this is an ongoing process. From year to year there is a review that is taking place. But, indeed, it is an inconsistency, it is a contradiction that we have two schools on either side of the road, one being a beneficiary of the programme and not the other. Therefore, you should be the eyes and the ears of the communities and draw it to the attention of the MECs and the Ministry wherever you discover that. Thank you.
Position regarding discussions with Higher Education South Africa on long- term solutions to certain concerns
21. Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC) asked the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
(1) Whether he had discussions with Higher Education South Africa (HESA) on any concerns about (a) learners entering the higher education sector being poorly prepared and (b) the low rate of completion in regulation time in many higher education institutions across the country; if so, what was the outcome of the discussions in respect of the long-term solutions; if not,
(2) whether he considers it necessary to engage this sector on the issue; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?